10

He then is full of frights and fears,

As one at point to die,
And long before the day appears

He heaves up many a sigh.

For then the farmers come jog, jog,

Along the miry road,
Each heart as heavy as a log,

To make their payments good.

In sooth, the sorrow of such days

Is not to be express'd,
When he that takes and he that pays

Now all unwelcome at his gates

The clumsy swains alight,
With rueful faces and bald pates

He trembles at the sight.

And well he may, for well he knows

Each bumpkin of the clan, Instead of paying what he owes,

Will cheat him if he can.

30

So in they come-each makes his leg,

And flings his head before, And looks as if he came to beg,

And not to quit a score.

And how does miss and madam do,

• The little boy and all?' · All tight and well. And how do you,

• Good Mr. What-d'ye-call?'

The dinner comes, and down they sit:

Were e'er such hungry folk? There's little talking, and no wit;

It is no time to joke.

40

One wipes his nose upon his sleeve,

One spits upon the floor,
Yet, not to give offence or grieve,

Holds

up

the cloth before.

The punch goes round, and they are dull

And lumpish still as ever;
Like barrels with their bellies full,

They only weigh the heavier.

6

50

At length the busy time begins,

• Come, neighbours, we must wag.'The money chinks, down drop their chins,

Each lugging out his bag.

One talks of mildew and of frost,

And one of storms of hail,

And one of pigs that he has lost

By maggots at the tail.

Quoth one, · A rarer man than

you • In pulpit none shall hear; • But yet, methinks, to tell you true,

• You sell it plaguy dear.'

60

O why are farmers made so coarse,

Or clergy made so fine?
A kick, that scarce would move a horse,

May kill a sound divine.

Then let the boobies stay at home;

"Twould cost him, I dare say, Less trouble taking twice the sum,

Without the clowns that pay.

68

SONNET ADDRESSED TO HENRY COWPER, ESQ.

ON HIS

EMPHATICAL AND INTERESTING DELIVERY OF THB DEFENCE OF

WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Cowper,whose silver voice, task'd sometimes hard,

Legends prolix delivers in the ears

(Attentive when thou read'st) of England's peers, Let verse at length yield thee thy just reward.

Thou wast not heard with drowsy disregard,

Expending late on all that length of plea

Thy gen'rous pow'rs, but silence honour'd thee, Mute às e'er gaz'd on orator or bard.

Thou art not voice alone, but hast beside

Both heart and head; and couldst with music

sweet

10

Of attic phrase and senatorial tone, Like thy renown'd forefathers, far and wide Thy fame diffuse, prais'd not for utt’rance meet

Of others' speech, but magic of thy own.